Dinosaur council meets with commissioners

Landfill, law enforcement issues top agenda

Craig  Dinosaur Mayor Freda Powell had some information for the Moffat County Commission during Tuesday's meeting in the county's western-most town.

"Nobody wants to haul trash to Meeker," she said. "About a mile out of town we're starting to see trash piles beginning."

Last year's closing of a Rio Blanco County landfill near Rangely has put Dinosaur even further away from a location for locals to dump trash.

A collection facility exists east of Rangely with fees equal to landfill prices, commissioner Tom Gray said. But, Powell said some Dinosaur residents are just letting the trash pile up.

"Tree limbs are a huge problem here in town," she said. "People are not going to haul trash all the way to Craig. I don't know what the answer is, but we need something."

Commissioners suggested a clean-up day, similar to what Craig has annually when landfill fees are waived for appliances and tires.

The commissioners told the Dinosaur town council that tires from their town would be accepted at the landfill for shredding by the county during a clean-up day, and Gray recommended a cost-sharing approach to the event, with Dinosaur, Moffat County and the residents sharing the costs to haul the trash to the Craig landfill.

Powell also felt that Dinosaur residents were going to Rangely to obtain Colorado driver's licenses because the 90-mile drive to Craig was too far. When they use a Rangely address instead of Dinosaur, they are avoiding tax dollars the town might collect.

The final issue for the council's discussion concerned law enforcement in Dinosaur, where a town marshal would benefit the Moffat County Sheriff's Office deputy living in town but covering the western end of the county.

Housing has been secured for additional law enforcement in Dinosaur, and Powell asked the commissioners to keep that in mind during upcoming budget discussions.

Powell pointed out the recent chip-and-seal projects completed in Dinosaur, and said future projects include reseeding the cemetery and parks in town.

The possibility of a truck-route bypassing Dinosaur to divert increased truck activity in the oil and gas fields also was discussed as a plan officials will look into in the months ahead.

Richard Blakley notified commissioners that the Dinosaur water system was in good shape and able to handle a population twice the current size of the town.

He also commended the county's roadwork around Dinosaur, but said he would prefer to see more tax dollars spent locally for the school.

Commissioners Tom Gray, Saed Tayyara and Tom Mathers made the drive to meet with Powell and Dinosaur trustees Dean Klein and Janet Atwood.

Dan Olsen can be reached at 824-7031, ext.207, or dolsen@craigdailypress.com